Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, but researchers are finding that natural compounds from plants might help prevent and treat it. This review examines how these natural substances work in the body to fight cancer cells through multiple mechanisms—like changing gut bacteria, triggering cancer cell death, and boosting the immune system. Scientists studied research from the past 5 years and found that these plant-based compounds have fewer side effects than traditional treatments while targeting cancer in multiple ways. The findings suggest these natural compounds could become important tools for protecting people at high risk of colorectal cancer and developing new treatments.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How natural plant-based compounds can help prevent and treat colorectal cancer by examining research from the last 5 years
- Who participated: This is a review article that analyzed existing research studies rather than conducting a new experiment with human participants
- Key finding: Natural compounds from plants appear to fight colorectal cancer through multiple pathways in the body, including changing gut bacteria, triggering cancer cell death, and regulating immune responses, with potentially fewer side effects than traditional treatments
- What it means for you: These findings suggest natural plant compounds could become part of cancer prevention and treatment strategies, especially for people at higher risk. However, more human testing is needed before these can replace standard treatments. Talk to your doctor before using any supplements.
The Research Details
This is a review article, which means researchers didn’t conduct their own experiment. Instead, they carefully read and analyzed dozens of scientific studies published over the past 5 years about how natural plant compounds affect colorectal cancer. They looked for patterns in how these compounds work in the body and organized the findings into categories based on the different mechanisms—like how they change gut bacteria or trigger cancer cells to die. By reviewing all this existing research together, the authors could see the bigger picture of what scientists have learned about these natural compounds and identify promising directions for future treatment development.
A review article is valuable because it brings together all the recent research in one place, making it easier to understand what we know and what we still need to learn. This type of study helps identify which natural compounds show the most promise and which need more testing. It also helps doctors and researchers plan future studies and decide which compounds are worth investigating further for human use.
This review was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, a respected scientific journal. The authors examined research from the past 5 years, focusing on recent discoveries. However, because this is a review of other studies rather than original research, the quality depends on the studies being reviewed. The authors note that comprehensive reviews on this topic have been scarce, suggesting this fills an important gap. Readers should understand that while the review summarizes promising findings, most of these compounds still need more testing in humans before they can be recommended as treatments.
What the Results Show
The review identified several ways that natural plant compounds appear to fight colorectal cancer. First, these compounds can change the balance of bacteria in the gut (the microbiome), which plays a role in cancer development. Second, they can trigger a process called ferroptosis, where cancer cells essentially self-destruct through a specific mechanism. Third, they can activate apoptosis and autophagy—two different ways that cancer cells can be programmed to die. These multiple mechanisms are important because they mean these compounds attack cancer from different angles simultaneously, similar to how a combination of traditional cancer drugs works better than a single drug alone. The review also found that many of these natural compounds have low toxicity, meaning they appear to cause fewer harmful side effects compared to conventional cancer treatments.
The research also highlighted that natural plant compounds have structural diversity, meaning they come in many different chemical forms, each with unique properties. This diversity suggests there are many different compounds worth studying. The review noted that colorectal cancer develops slowly over many years (typically more than 10 years), which means there’s a long window of opportunity for prevention strategies. The authors also emphasized that colorectal cancer rates and deaths vary significantly across different geographic regions, age groups, and between men and women, suggesting that targeted prevention strategies for high-risk populations could be particularly effective.
The authors note that while previous research has shown promise for natural compounds in cancer treatment, comprehensive reviews bringing this research together have been rare. This review builds on earlier work by organizing recent findings (from the past 5 years) into clear categories based on how the compounds work. It suggests that the field is moving toward understanding not just whether these compounds work, but exactly how they work in the body—which is important for developing them into actual medicines.
This is a review article, not original research, so it’s limited by the quality and scope of the studies it examined. Most of the research reviewed appears to be laboratory and animal studies rather than human trials, which means we don’t yet know if these compounds work the same way in people. The review doesn’t provide specific information about which compounds are closest to becoming available treatments or which are most effective. Additionally, the authors note that clinical progress with these compounds in actual patient treatment remains limited, meaning most are not yet approved medicines. More human studies are needed to determine safe and effective doses and to confirm that these compounds work as well in people as they do in laboratory settings.
The Bottom Line
Based on this review, natural plant compounds show promise for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment, but they should not yet replace standard medical treatments. Current evidence suggests these compounds may be most useful as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy for people at high risk of colorectal cancer, combined with established preventive measures like screening, healthy diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking. Anyone interested in using plant-based supplements should discuss this with their doctor first, especially if they have a family history of colorectal cancer or other risk factors. Confidence level: Moderate—the research is promising but mostly from laboratory studies, not yet from large human trials.
People at high risk of colorectal cancer (those with family history, inflammatory bowel disease, or other risk factors) should be most interested in this research. Healthcare providers developing cancer prevention and treatment strategies should follow this research. However, people currently being treated for colorectal cancer should not use these compounds as replacements for proven treatments without doctor approval. Researchers and pharmaceutical companies developing new cancer drugs should pay attention to these findings as they plan future studies.
If these compounds eventually become approved treatments, benefits would likely take weeks to months to appear, similar to other cancer treatments. For prevention purposes, consistent use over years might be necessary, given that colorectal cancer develops slowly over many years. Don’t expect immediate results—cancer prevention and treatment are long-term processes.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily intake of plant-based foods rich in natural compounds (berries, cruciferous vegetables, green tea, turmeric) and note any digestive changes or symptoms. Log servings of cancer-preventive foods weekly to monitor consistency with dietary recommendations.
- Increase consumption of plant-based foods known to contain these natural compounds: add berries to breakfast, include cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage) in meals 3-4 times weekly, drink green tea daily, and incorporate turmeric into cooking. Start with one change and build gradually.
- Create a long-term food diary tracking plant compound intake alongside general health markers. Set monthly goals for increasing plant-based food variety. Share progress with healthcare provider during regular check-ups, especially if you have colorectal cancer risk factors. Monitor for any changes in digestive health and report to doctor.
This review summarizes research on natural plant compounds and colorectal cancer, but it is not medical advice. Most compounds discussed are still in research stages and are not approved treatments. Do not use any supplements or natural compounds to replace standard colorectal cancer screening, prevention, or treatment without consulting your doctor. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, are experiencing symptoms, or have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, speak with your healthcare provider about appropriate screening and treatment options. Always inform your doctor about any supplements or natural products you’re considering, as they may interact with medications or treatments.